St. Mary’s Mayor Steve Ryan characterizes the recent events on Tuesday night as a convergence of adverse circumstances. He was the initial responder to a blaze that razed the St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries plant completely. Even hours later, the magnitude of the personal loss was still sinking in.
“My parents dedicated over 30 years to working in the plant,” Ryan shared with CBC News on Wednesday morning. “Our upbringing was intertwined with the provisions from the plants.”
At approximately 8:45 p.m. NT on Tuesday evening, crews were notified about the fire. Ryan recounted arriving to witness flames billowing out of the roof, and within about 10 minutes, it became evident that the structure would collapse.
Don Boyles, the chief of the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department, acknowledged that nothing could be done. “The scale of the fire was overwhelming. Our resources were insufficient to extinguish such a massive blaze,” Boyles expressed. “There was no feasible way to salvage the building. My primary responsibility as fire chief is ensuring the safety of my team.”
Around 20 residents evacuated their residences and sought refuge at the town hall until the early hours of the morning, as confirmed by Ryan.
The fish plant, a vital employer in the area with more than 300 workers during peak season, both local and international, was engaged in processing redfish as recently as this week. Ryan emphasized the plant’s contribution of good-paying jobs that attracted workers from various parts of the globe to the region.
“They are devastated and distraught, as this is a significant blow,” Ryan stated, highlighting the familial bond among many workers.
The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire, with strong winds gusting up to 172 km/h along the southern Avalon Peninsula on Tuesday. Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for the region, with coastal flooding warnings in effect for the southern Avalon Peninsula.
Both Ryan and Boyles expressed gratitude that there were no casualties. Boyles particularly noted the relief that the fire did not spread beyond the plant, considering that many residents in the area might not have home insurance.
Looking ahead to the upcoming processing season in the spring, Ryan is concerned about the plant employees. He mentioned receiving support from Premier Tony Wakeham, who termed the fire as a tragic loss.
Sherry Gambin-Walsh, the MHA for Placentia-St. Mary’s, remarked on the ongoing smoldering of the fire and expressed hope for the plant’s reconstruction. She emphasized the need to assist the employees, whose employment insurance is set to expire in February or March.
Communication challenges ensued when the power outage disrupted cell service, complicating the situation, according to both Ryan and St. Vincent’s Mayor Verna Hayward. Hayward highlighted the inability to check on residents during the outage, hindering community support efforts.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 3,000 individuals were still without power, with restoration efforts ongoing. Glenda Power, communications director for Newfoundland Power, acknowledged the unpredictability of potential further outages due to persisting high winds.
The recovery process continues as the community grapples with the aftermath of the devastating fire, with a focus on rebuilding and supporting those affected.